ALBANY — Ricky DeNure, a 1982 Black Hawk graduate, announced his retirement from line judging during Senior Night on Thursday, Sept. 28. DeNure has been line judging for both Black Hawk and Albany volleyball, as he has lived and worked in Albany the last 12 years.

“It just feels like the right time to retire after this year while I still feel I am at my best and having a great time doing it,” DeNure said. “I’m going to miss raising my red flag, but I’ll come around once in a while to support.”

DeNure has spent the last 18 years line judging at Black Hawk and the last 12 at Albany. In October 2020, though, he was sidelined with COVID-19. In fact, DeNure was hospitalized for over three months, with six of those weeks in a coma. Since his return to volleyball in August 2021, DeNure has learned a valuable lesson.

“I was given about a 1% chance to live, but by some miracle, I came out of it thanks to all the prayers and an awesome medical staff, especially the nurses,” DeNure said. “I returned to the court that August and never felt so alive. The biggest lesson I learned is never take anything for granted.”